My Experience with Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy at MAUD Medical Clinic: What to Expect at Your First Appointment

May 31

If you've been considering pelvic floor physiotherapy but feel nervous about booking your first appointment, you're not alone.

Before my first visit to MAUD Medical Clinic, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Pelvic floor physiotherapy involves discussing and assessing parts of the body that many of us don't talk about openly, and that can feel intimidating. Now that I've completed my initial assessment and my first follow-up appointment, I wanted to share my experience to help others feel more comfortable taking that first step.

Why I Booked Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

I first came to pelvic floor physiotherapy after experiencing pelvic tension and pain following an IUD insertion. While the insertion itself went well, I noticed ongoing discomfort afterward and wanted to better understand what was causing it and whether there was anything I could do to improve it.

One thing I learned is that pelvic floor tension can sometimes develop as the body's response to pain, discomfort, stress, or even anticipation of pain. While not everyone who experiences discomfort after an IUD insertion will need pelvic floor physiotherapy, my assessment revealed significant pelvic floor tension that was likely contributing to my symptoms.

Like many people, I wasn't exactly sure what was causing the issue or what treatment would involve.

When I arrived at MAUD Medical Clinic, I met Temi Sokunbi, my pelvic floor physiotherapist. Right away, she made me feel comfortable. She was warm, knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk to. From the beginning, I felt like I was in good hands.

Editor's Note: While my symptoms began after an IUD insertion, pelvic floor physiotherapy can help address muscle tension and dysfunction that may contribute to pelvic pain. Not all pain after an IUD insertion is caused by the pelvic floor, which is why a thorough medical assessment is important. In my case, pelvic floor physiotherapy became an important part of understanding and treating my symptoms.

The Initial Consultation

The first part of my appointment involved a conversation about my symptoms and health history.

Temi asked me questions about:

My pelvic pain and discomfort
When the symptoms began, including how they related to my IUD insertion
What activities made the pain better or worse
My medical history
Any related health conditions or contributing factors

She also asked me to rate my pain on a scale from one to ten. This helped establish a baseline so we could measure progress over time.

The conversation felt very relaxed and non-judgmental. It felt more like discussing my health with a trusted healthcare professional than anything intimidating.

Learning About Breathing and the Pelvic Floor

One thing that surprised me was how much breathing affects the pelvic floor.

Before any physical assessment, Temi explained that the diaphragm and pelvic floor work together. When we breathe properly using our diaphragm, the pelvic floor naturally moves and relaxes.

To assess this, she first observed how I normally breathe.

Then she guided me through diaphragmatic breathing exercises. This type of breathing encourages relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles and can be an important part of treatment, especially for people who experience pelvic floor tension.

I had no idea that something as simple as breathing could play such a significant role in pelvic health.

The Physical Assessment

After discussing what the assessment would involve and obtaining my consent, Temi stepped out of the room so I could undress from the waist down in private.

I lay on the treatment table and covered myself with a sheet.

When she returned, the assessment began.

Visual Assessment

The first part involved a visual examination of my vulva and vaginal area.

Temi asked me to perform Kegel exercises so she could observe how my pelvic floor muscles contracted and relaxed.

This allowed her to assess whether I could effectively engage and release those muscles.

What she noticed was that while I could contract my pelvic floor muscles, I wasn't fully relaxing them afterward. This indicated that I was carrying a significant amount of tension in my pelvic floor.

Internal Vaginal Assessment

The next step was an internal assessment.

Temi wore a glove and gently inserted her fingers into my vagina to assess the muscles internally.

During this part of the exam, she:

Checked for areas of tension
Assessed muscle strength
Identified tender or painful areas
Evaluated how well I could contract and relax my pelvic floor muscles

She also asked me to perform Kegel exercises while she assessed the muscles internally.

She immediately noticed areas of tension and was able to identify specific spots that reproduced some of the discomfort I had been experiencing.

Throughout the entire process, she explained what she was doing, made sure I was comfortable, and checked in regularly. Nothing felt rushed, and I always felt in control.

For anyone who is nervous about this part, I can honestly say that Temi made the experience as comfortable and professional as possible.

Understanding the Results

Once the assessment was complete, Temi left the room so I could get dressed.

When she returned, she reviewed her findings with me.

She explained what she believed was contributing to my symptoms and discussed some possible reasons for the pelvic floor tension she found.

One thing I found particularly interesting was learning how stress can affect pelvic health.

According to Temi, many people who experience pelvic floor tension are often high achievers, Type A personalities, entrepreneurs, caregivers, or individuals dealing with significant stress. Our bodies can hold tension in ways we don't always recognize, and the pelvic floor is one of those areas.

This explanation made a lot of sense to me.

My Treatment Plan

After discussing her findings, Temi created a personalized treatment plan.

She recommended exercises specifically designed to help:

Relax my pelvic floor muscles
Improve pelvic floor function
Reduce pain
Improve overall body awareness

She also recommended when I should schedule my next appointment, which ended up being about three weeks later.

The Home Exercise Program

One of the things I appreciated most was the support I received after leaving the clinic.

Temi emailed me access to an online exercise platform where all of my prescribed exercises were organized.

The program included:

Written instructions
Demonstration videos
Images showing proper technique
Recommended repetitions and frequency

This made it incredibly easy to stay on track.

Instead of trying to remember everything from the appointment, I could simply follow the program.

She also encouraged me to reach out by email if I had questions before my next appointment, which provided additional reassurance.

My Follow-Up Appointment

Three weeks later, I returned for my follow-up appointment.

Temi performed a brief reassessment and reviewed my progress since the initial visit and found that my breathing habits were improving!

We discussed:

Which exercises were helping
Challenges I encountered
Questions I had about technique
Changes in my symptoms

Based on my progress, she adjusted my treatment plan and updated my exercises.

What stood out to me was how individualized the care felt.

Rather than following a generic program, Temi considered everything happening in my life and adjusted treatment accordingly.

A Whole-Person Approach to Pelvic Health

Recently, I have been dealing with some other health concerns that have understandably created additional stress.

Instead of focusing only on my pelvic symptoms, Temi looked at the bigger picture.

She explained that calming the nervous system can play an important role in reducing pelvic floor tension and improving symptoms and overall wellbeing.

As part of my updated treatment plan, she introduced additional breathing and nervous system regulation exercises that support both my overall well-being and my pelvic health.

I appreciated this holistic approach because it recognized that our bodies are connected and that healing often involves more than addressing a single symptom.

My Overall Experience at MAUD Medical Clinic

After two appointments, I can honestly say that my experience with pelvic floor physio at MAUD Medical Clinic has been excellent.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can feel intimidating, especially if you've never had an internal assessment before. However, Temi made me feel comfortable, informed, and respected throughout the entire process.

She is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and professional, and I genuinely feel optimistic about my recovery. What I appreciate most is that she treats the whole person, not just the symptom. I never felt rushed, dismissed, or embarrassed. Instead, I felt heard, educated, and empowered.

If you've been struggling with pelvic pain after an IUD insertion, painful intercourse, pelvic floor tension, urinary urgency, bladder issues, postpartum recovery concerns, or other pelvic health symptoms, I would encourage you not to wait.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has helped me better understand my body, and I am confident that with Temi's guidance, I am moving toward feeling better.

Ready to Book Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?

At MAUD Medical Clinic, pelvic floor physiotherapist Temi Sokunbi provides compassionate, evidence-based care for a wide range of pelvic health concerns, including: